Shuttle check, picking mechanism, and parallel motion for looms



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Oct. 17', 1950 PARALLEL MOTION FOR LOUIS 3 Sheets-Skaai 2 Filed o'ot. a. 1913l Oct. 17, 1950 G. cRoMP-roN. JR 2,525,775

Saum CHECK, PICKING IIECHNIS, AND

PARALLEL MOTION FDR LOHS Fuga o ez.- e. i948 :s sheets-sheet s 45 gwoon/IM Wmwm GW. G'Ompwfwr- Patented Oct. 1.7,v 1950 OFFICE SHUTTLE CHECK, PrcxlNGlirEcnAmsM, AND PARALLEL MoTToN Fon LooMs George Crompton, Jr., Framingham, Mass. A Application october s, 194s, serial No; 53,532

. 17 claims. (cl. lss-.150)

This invention relates to the picking mechanism of y shuttle looms, particularly single shuttle looms. but may be also applied at the single box end of drop box looms and` may be further applied to the drop Fbox end of drop box looms which have a single box at the other end. Thus the invention may be used on 1 x 1` looms for both boxes, on 2 x l., 4 x 1 and 6 vx -1 looms .at

the single box end and even in certain cases at reduce shuttle rebound which, in automatic looms, is a detriment, resulting in loom stoppage and the necessity of adjustment. Another object of the invention is to reduce knocking off (banging oil). Another object is to render the adjustment of the boxes (that is.the binders Another object of the invention is so, to"

thereof) less critical which will save many `man hours in the setting up and operation of looms. Another object is to make a loom independent of conditions of humidity so far as mechanical functioning is concerned. Another object is tol permit the entire dispensing with .the binder springs for the boxes of looms.

Another object of the invention is to improve the Recoil Picking Mechanism for Looms patented in my expired U. `S. Patent #1,393,758, y

dated Oct. 18, 1921. Another object of the inventi'on is to provide a mechanism of the class indicated which will operate year Vin and year out without failure. Anotherobject is `to provide a mechanism of the class indicated which will check the shuttle with a strong force as it colnes into the box but which will not tend to4 make the shuttle rebound,` all with such a, simple mechanical arrangement as renders breakdown unlikely. Another object is to provide a fool- 2 instead of being retracted by a parallel motion spring, whereby such picker sticks help to stop the shuttle by their`own inertia.

VAnother object of the invention is to reduce the amount 'of power required to operate a loom, which mayrseem `insignificant 'in terms of one loom per `one day butwhich becomes significant as measuredby one thousand looms per year. Another object is to make looms -distinctly quieter whichioil'hand may not seem of much importance but which, in terms of strain on' human persons, is actually of the greatest importance. Another object is to cause the `bobbin changing mechanism `of an automaticloom to function more accurately with fewerqbreakdowns. An-y other object is to cause the `feeler mechanism of an automatic loom to funotionmore accurately.`

Other objectsV will be in'part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter. inglyrconsists in the featuresoffconstruction,

combinations of elements, and arrangements of l parts, all as willbe illustratively described herein, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated inthezfollowing claims. i In the accompanying drawings illustrating one of many possible embodiments of the mechalslical features of this invention:

Figure l is aIside'elevation"lof ashuttle check `picking mechanism fands-'parallel motion for looms constructedi in accordance with the inventlon;

Figure `2 isnvertlc'al vlew taken on Figure S'isa vertical. tional view taken on the line 3-.-3 ci Figure-1;)` n i Figure 4 is a fraglnentary sectional view taken on the line 4-.4 of Figure 1.

\ member I0 which is: substantially a rectangular shaft ofA la `loom` and secured inplace by a set screw Il'equippedwitliacheck nut l5. The slot proof check which starts to operate the moment i the shuttle starts entry into the box, `entirely independent of the binder .and which reduces rebound insteadbf `increasing it. Another object of the invention is to provide a thoroughly satisfactory mechanism for'operating thepicker sticks so that, after picking, they4 stay forward Il widens vinfanjelllp'anl'iing curve from top to bottom on each sidefin-sections parallel to the plane of the picker stick. 4 The .plate memberJn should be ol.'I metal loflow permeability (high rei luctance) in amagnetic'circuit. In other words, 4it should-be of-non-ferrous metal land, all things considered,` the brosses and the `bronzes are probably the` best alloys for the purpose, as they have adequatejstrenth.

Referring now to Figures land 3, I provide a. pair of permanent magnets Il and l1 which have The" invention accord- 3 the shape of rectangular parallelopipeds, the top surfaces of whichare flush with the top surface of the plate member I6, thus to form a wide horizontal plane surface I6 broken by the slot II. These magnets I6 and I1 are mechanically part of the parallel motion plate. The magnets I6 and I1 are thicker in the vertical dimension than the plate member I0, so therefore the magnets I6 and I1 extend below the plate member I0, as clearly shown in Figure 3.

Under the plate member I and between the magnets I6 and I1 is a yoke member 20, which is also a rectangular parallelopiped having the same length as the plate member I0 and the magnet I6 and I1, the same width as the plate member I 0 and a thickness equal to the difference between that of the magnets I6 and I1 and that of the plate member Ill. The plate member I0, the magnets I6 and I1 and the yoke member 20 thus together form a horseshoe magnet in the shape of a rectangular parallelopiped with opposite poles on the top surface I6, as indicated. The entire assembly is held together with four brass screws 2l and nuts 22.

The magnets I6 and I1 are of some highly magnetizable material, naturally a ferrous metal or alloy, and the best material for the purpose known to me is an alloy of iron, aluminum, nickel and cobalt, which is now well known and readily available. It is capable of being magnetized to a high magneto-motive force H. The magnetic axes of the magnets I6 and l1 should be vertical so that the poles are on top and on the bottom, and it has been found to be quite possible to magnetize rectangular parallelopipeds so that the magnetic axes are along a shorter dimension. The top surface I8 of one magnet should be of opposite polarity to that of the top surface I8 of the other magnet, as indicated by the symbols N and S in Figure 3, but whether the north pole is on the right or left is quite immaterial.

The yoke 20 should be of highly permeable material and the best such material known to me is soft steel, of low carbon content. The holding power of the entire magnetic system is a function of the flux B, Where B=MuH and Mu is the permeability of the entire system. The function of the yoke 26 is to transmit the flux from one bottom pole to the other bottom pole so therefore it should be as permeable as possible.

The picker stick is indicated at 25, only the lower portion being shown, since it Will be operated by the customary picking cam and roll or ball and shoe and lug strap and have a rawhide picker as is customary. A spindle mounted picker is not precluded. Preferably, the picker stick 25 is made of Wood as indicated.

As clearly illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the picker stick 25 is mounted in a shoe-rocker 26 at least the lowerpart of which is made of highly permeable material such as soft iron or soft steel. This shoe-rocker constitutes the armature in the magnetic circuit. It has an arcuate bottom surface 21 such that the picking point will travel in a straight line, as is known. By the line contact of the shoe-rocker with the magnetic surface I8, the shoe-rocker 26 is strongly held to the assembly of magnets I6 and I1 and thus the parallel motion springmay be dispensed with.

Integral with the shoe-rocker 26y and extending downwardly from the bottom thereof is a tongue 30 which however should be made of nonpermeable material such as brass or bronze and may be brazed to the bottom of the shoe-rocker 26. The relative shapes of the slot Il and the tongue 30 in an illustrative embodiment of this invention are clearly shown in Figure 2 and so also are the clearances. These shapes and clearances are such that in no position of the parts will they bind and furthermore so that when the powerful thrust of the lug strap drives the picker stick forward, there will be no resultant force tending to raise the shoe-rocker 26 from thesurface I6 and also when the shuttle is being checked there will be no resultant upward force.

The shoe-rocker 26 has an upstanding portion 36 which has a. rectangular parallelopipedal recess 36 to receive the lower end of the picker stick 25 which is locked in position by a lock screw 31 assisted by a check nut 3l. In the drawings, the picker stick 26 and the shoe-rocker 26 are shown in the mid position which they occupy only momentarily, it being understood that at the start of the pick lthe picker stick 26 is at an acute angle to the righthand side of the surface Il, Figure 1, and at the end of the picking motion the picker stick 25 is at an acute angle to the lefthand side of the surface I6, Figure l. It will be seen thatnas thus far described, there is nothing to withdraw the picker stick 26 after it has thrown the shuttle and therefore it stays forward, but nevertheless it is firmly held from rising by the magnetic attraction. The inertia alone of the picker stick 26 as well as of the shoe-rocker 26 and the upstanding portion 35 constitutes a powerful check to stop the shuttle when next it returns into the box but without setting up any force which can help to cause a rebound, for the shoe-rocker 26 is held to the surface I8 without any tendency to move the picker stick 25 forward or back.

However, I preferably provide magnetic means tending to hold the picker stick 26 in the forward position to which it is thrust by the picking motion by means of the lug strap. This may take the form of an additional armature 46 having plane bottom surfaces 4I which will make area (instead of line) contact with the surface Il of the'magnets I6 and I1. The armature 40 has A in the bottom thereof as shown in Figure 4 a groove 42 of a width equal to the width of the plate I Il and in this groove 42 is an armature holding member 43 made of material of low permeability such as brass or bronze. 'I'he armature holding member 42 may be brazed to the main portion of the shoe-rocker 26 and a front portion 26a thereof, thus bridging and connecting these portions. These portions are also connected by an upper connecting piece 44 having a strengthenning rib 45 which may be made of any metal that can be securely attached, as by brazing, to the main portion of the shoe-rocker 26 and its front portion 26a It will be seen that the armature 40 is held loosely in position so that its flat bottom surfaces can seat tightly upon the surface I6 of the magnets I6 and I1 throughout a fairly wide range of angular positions of the picker stick 25 as the picking stroke ends. Thus, rebound of the picker stick from its forward position can take place without disturbing the grip upon the armature 40 by the magnets I6 and I1 which hold the armature 40 with a powerful force due to the large area of contact. Thus additional checking means is provided when the incoming shuttle breaks loose the armature 40 from the magnets I6 and I1 and furthermore the attraction of the magnets I6 and I1 for the armature Il actually returns energy tol the next picking im VWhenever possible. a loom should be equipped with two of the mechanisms of this invention,

one for each picker stick mounted onthe ends of the rock shaft. Looms so equipped will run with less vibration, less noise and less power and the'xna'gnets Il and I1. therefore the plate member il should wear as fast'as the magnets Il and I1. Bronzes having about 20% of tin,

` the rest copper. arefriable. and this or a strong may be runathigher speed and will otherwise n. accomplish the objects of this invention. The

boxes may be muchlooser than ordinarily and it is picking a shuttle outof a tight box that holds down the overall performance of a loom.

Whileelectro-magnets might be used in` place .of permanent magnets. the latter are more convenient and require no wiring. Y

The usual lug strap permits the picker stick' to remain forward after the picking shaft has returned to -theposition where it is ready to v mairel another pick. However, if in some losses,

the lost motion is not sumcientfthe lug strap should be adjusted or a new one selected that will provide suillcient lost motion. The oonneotion of the lug strap to the picker stick should be high-enough so that the picking motion will not tend to lift the picker stick. y l

The tongue 30 and slot il are shaped so as to take the reaction of picking aswell as the re-V action of checking. During the picking, force is applied to the picker stick 25 by the lug strap and this meets` the resistance of the shuttle due to inertia and to the friction of the binder. The

y picker stick 28 thus becomes va lever and the tongue 30 is urged powerfully'to the left, Fig- Y ure 2. The pme In takes the thrust and. by

ing portion 35, resulting in a force to drive the tongue 30 to the right, Figure 2. This is taken by the engagement of the righthand side of the tongue 30 with the wall of the slot Il, again without any resultant upward force on the picker stick 25 due to the shapes of the parts.' `There will be a slight sliding back and forth of the shoe-rocker 26 in the surface I8 so the surface I8 should be greased to prevent or reduce wear.

Since permanent magnets readily pick up nuts, screws, tools, iron filings, etc. that may be dropped near them, it will be' best'to secure high brass plates with inturned edges to the sides of the magnets I6 and I1 forming a sort o f box for the mechanism but these have not been shown in the drawings as they would-obscure the other parts.

The tongue 30 besides having the functions already described serves to align the shoe-rocker 26 upon the plate member It, that is to say, it keeps the plane of the picker stick 25 in line with or parallel to the fell of the cloth being woven or it keeps the plane of the picker stick 25 `in line with or parallel to the intended line of night of the shuttle. But since clearance between the tongue 30 and the magnets I6 and I1 should be provided t prevent binding, the yoke 30 should be a few thousandths of an inch thicker than the tongue 30.

It is desirable that as the parts wear, the shoerocker 26 should still make line contact with maybe reduced in height so that its top r but soft alloy may be used forthe plate member ,IB. 0n `the otherhand. the, plate member .Il surface isbelow thatof the magnets i land I1.

`The member I0 as well as the assembly of member It and the magnets Il and I1 is called a plate because this is the conventional name ofthe supporting member of the conventional `parallel motion. It will'be seen that the mag` nets i5 and l1 can readily be removed for remagnetizatlon or replacement and can as easily beresecured.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by this invention an Vapparatus according to which the various objects herein above set forthtogether with many thoroughly practical advantages are successfully achieved. As many possible embodiments may be made of the mechanical features of this invention, and as the embodiment above described may be varied in various parts, all without departing from the -scope of the invention, it will be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim: Y

l. Apparatus of the class described comprising a shoe-rocker for a picker stick which shoe rocker is made of magnetically permeable material, a plate to support said shoe-rocker, and magnetic means to hold said shoe-rocker upon said plate.

2. Apparatus of the class described comprising a shoe-rocker for a picker stick which shoe rocker is made of magnetically permeable material, and ymagnetic means to hold said shoe-rocker in position and to resist retrograde movement of the picker stick.

3. Apparatus of the class described comprising a magnetic parallel motion plate, a magnetically permeable shoe-rocker having a curved bottom surface, and a portion of said shoe-rocker having a recess to hold a picker stick.

4. Apparatus of the class described comprising a magnetic parallel motion plate, a magnetically permeable shoe-rocker having a curved bottom surface, a portion of said shoe-rocker having a recess to hold a picker stick, there being a slot in the plate said slot widening in an expanding curve from top to bottom on each side in sections parallel to the plane of the picker stick, and a tongue in the slot to take thrust in both horif` zontal directions, the tongue and slot being so shaped as to avoid resultant force which would lift the shoe-rocker from the plate in opposition to the magnetic attraction.

5. Apparatus of the class described comprising a magnetic parallel motion plate, a magnetically permeable shoe-rocker having a curved bottom surface. a portion of said shoe-rocker having a. recess to hold a picker stick, and an armature connected to said shoerocker, said armature having a bottom surface shaped to make area contact with said plate whereby said shoe-rocker is magnetically held to said plate in al1 angular positions and is strongly held on s aid plate to a particular angular position in which position recess to hold a picker stick, an armature connected to said shoe-rocker, said armature having a bottom surface shaped to make area contact with said plate whereby said sheo-rocker is magnetically held to said plate in all angular positions and is strongly held on said plate to a particular angular position in which position it checks the incoming shuttle, there being a slot in the plate said slot widening in an expanding curve from top to bottom on each side in sections parallel to the plane of the picker stick, and a tongue in the slot to take thrust in both horizontal directions, the tongue and slot being so shaped as to avoid resultant force which would lift the shoe-rocker from the plate in opposition to the magnetic attraction.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the magnetic means is a horseshoe type Dermanent magnet.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the magnetic means is a horseshoe type permanent magnet.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the parallel motion plate includes a horseshoe magnet, the magnetic axes of which are substantially perpendicular to the plate surface.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the parallel motion plate includes a horseshoe magnet, the magnetic axes of which are substantially perpendicular to the plate surface.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which the parallel motion plate includes a horseshoe magnet, the magnetic axes of which are substantially perpendicular to the plate surface.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which the parallel motion plate includes a horseshoe magnet, the magnetic axes of which are substantially perpendicular to the plate surface.

13. Apparatus of the class described comprising a picker stick holder, a parallel motion for said picker stick holder, and a magnet to hold the holder in a given angular position on the parallel motion until the inertia of a shuttle striking the picker stick breaks the hold of the magnet on the holder.

14. Apparatus oi the class described comprising a picker stick holder, a separate loom part, a magnet and an armature to be held by the magnet, one of said last two parts being secured to the holder and the other to the separate loom part whereby the picker stick holder may be held in a given angular position until the inertia of a shuttle striking the picker stick breaks the hold of the magneten the armature.

l5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, in which the magnet is a permanent magnet.

16. Apparatus oi' the class described comprising a parallel motion having two main parts, one of said parts being a supporting plate and the other of said parts being a rocker, one of said parts being a magnet and the other of said parts being magnetically permeable to be attracted by said magnet.

17. Apparatus of the class described comprising a parallel motion plate, a shoe-rocker iitting said plate, a magnet and an armature, one of said last two parts being on the plate and the other on the shoe-rocker, and the magnet and the armature being so positioned on the plate and the shoe-rocker that they hold the shoe-rocker in an extreme angular position on the plate in order to check a shuttle the inertia of which breaks the hold of the magnet on the armature.

GEORGE CROMPTON, Jn.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file oi' this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 32,308 Nugent May 14, 1861 1,024,036 Cote et al Apr. 23, 1912 FOREIGN PATENTS Numbei Country Date 697,632 Germany Oct. 18, 1940 

